Darryl explained, "I want to make sure you notice a few things about Daniel's prayer. We know that Daniel, like all mankind, was born into sin. The Bible, however, doesn't record any particular sin in Daniel's life. Daniel identified with Israel and the sins of the nation. He praised G-d's faithfulness and acknowledged that Israel deserved to be punished for their sins. He reminded G-d of His mercy and begged Him to once again bring honor to Himself, Jerusalem, and His people."

"I think if I would have been the one praying, I would have told G-d what a great guy I was and look at how wicked the rest of the Jewish people were. I don't think I would have included myself in with the others," Brian announced.

"That's because you are still comparing yourself with other people, and saying I'm not as bad as him or her, instead of comparing yourself with G-d's holiness," Jamie explained to him.

Brian was silent, thoughtfully considering what Jamie had just told him.

Elizabeth broke the silence, "Daniel's prayer was short and to the point. It was about three minutes in length."

"I wonder, how long it was before Daniel had an answer?" Jamie wondered out loud.

"Daniel wrote that when he had finished his prayer, Gabriel was already standing there with an answer from G-d. G-d knew what was on Daniel's heart when he began to pray and immediately sent Gabriel with the response," Elizabeth explained.

"No way!" Brian shouted, "Gabriel made it all the way from heaven in under three minutes! Unbelievable!"

"He must have been moving like lightning!" Jamie laughed. "I wish I could get answers to my prayers that fast!"

"You'll see when we study chapter ten that Daniel's prayers weren't always answered so quickly. I should also mention that Daniel wasn't afraid of Gabriel this time when he visited."

"What did Gabriel tell him, Dad?" Jamie asked.

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Gabriel told Daniel, "O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications, the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou are greatly beloved. Therefore, understand the matter, and consider the vision. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know, therefore, and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem unto the Messiah, the Prince, shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troubled times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself; and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, and the end of it shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."3

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"That was as clear as mud!" Brian wailed.

"I didn't understand a thing!" Jamie moaned.

"Its all yours, Elizabeth," Darryl smiled.

"Let me ask a couple of questions. Brian, if I told you John is two dozen years old, how old would John be?"

"Twenty-four," Brian replied.

"Very good. Jamie, if I told you John is six dozen inches tall, how tall would he be?"

"He would be seventy-two inches tall, or six feet," Jamie answered.

"Great, one key to understanding this prophecy is to know that the Jewish people used the word week to mean seven, just as we use the word dozen to mean twelve."4

"Oh!" exclaimed Jamie and Brian.

"Brian concluded, "Gabriel said there would be 70 weeks. That would be 70 times 7, or 490."

"Four hundred ninety what? Weeks, months, years?" asked Jamie.

"Years," Darryl interjected. "During Daniel's prayer, he talked about 70 years of captivity. So we can safely assume we are still using years as our unit of measure."

"We will see by the time we finish examining the prophecy that 'years' makes the most sense," Elizabeth continued. "The 490 years were determined upon the Jewish people and against Jerusalem, G-d's holy city. There were several reasons for this: first, the transgressions of Israel will not be finished until they as a nation repent and turn to G-d. This will happen at the end of the great tribulation. Second, when Yeshua (Jesus) returns to earth to deliver Israel at the battle of Armageddon, He will bring sin to an end. Third, Yeshua (Jesus) will reconcile himself to Israel. Fourth, Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) will sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem, and everlasting righteousness will be established. Fifth, visions and prophecies will be a thing of the past as Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) sets up his throne here on earth. Sixth, Ezekiel chapters 41 and 42 describe the millennial temple that will be built. The Shekinah glory of G-d will return and anoint the Most Holy Place."5

"Gabriel told Daniel that when the command was issued for the rebuilding of Jerusalem until the Messiah there would be 7 weeks and 62 weeks."

"That would be 7 times 7 plus 62 times 7," Jamie said as she scribbled furiously on her paper. "That would be a total of 483 years!"

Brian didn't want to miss a thing and asked, "Why is this time period separated into two chunks?"